Strand threading and strand knotting combination



NOV- 15, 1965 l R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,755

STRAND THREADING AND STRAND KNOTTING COMBINATION 7 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed June 23, 1960 .lliiip INVENToRs RICHARD l? Damen BY He/ANGueNr//f in \NN.

n.. LN mm In INN 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16, 1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL STRANDTHREADING AND STRAND KNOTTING COMBINATION original Filed June 23, 1960vvm.

NOV- 16, 1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,755

STRAND THREADING AND STRAND KNOTTING COMBINATION 7 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed June 25, 1960 NSN @u 55H www Tow ,m06 WPG D @N Am PH Y BNov. 16, 1965 R'. P. DOERER ETAL 3,2179755 STRAND THREADING AND STRANDKNOTTING COMBINATION Original Filed June 23, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 /98434 INVENTORs 374 Y Pmi/ARD P Doe/zen 370 BY He/eMA/v GGue/vT//f/a www,MM MVL Nov. 16, 1965 R. P. Dol-:RER ETAL 3,27,755

STRAND THREADING AND STRAND KNOTTING COMBINATION Original Filed June 23,1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IHIL/ d/ l lll JNVENToRs ,4P/CHM@ 00E/PER BYHeem/v C5. Gu/1mm NOV 16, i965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,755

Original Filed June 25, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q7/cuneo Doe/QE@ HERMA/v GG um ru 6k Nov. 16, 1965 R. P. Dol-:RER ETAL. 3,217,755

STRAND THREADING AND STRAND KNOTTING COMBINATION Original Filed June 23,1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 456 zNz/ENTORS @/cmmo P Damen HERMAN G51/wrm 14claims. (ci. 14o-3) This invention relates generally to a method andapparatus for making a strand-reinforced panel and refers moreparticularly to a method and apparatus for feeding reinforcing strandsinto the panel and knotting the ends of the strands.

This application is a division of our co-pendng application Serial No.38,402 led June 23, 1960.

Reinforced fabric panels of the type described herein are manufacturedby inserting elongated strands of reinforcing material into a web orpanel of the fabric. A reinforced panel of this type may serve as aninsulator between the overlying padding and underlying spring structureof an upholstered assembly, for example.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a method of andapparatus for longitudinally feeding a reinforcing strand into a pieceof material, yand for twisting or knotting the strand ends.

Another object is to provide means for severing the portion of thestrand in the piece of material from the remainder thereof.

Another object is to provide separate knotting or twisting structures toact on the opposite ends of the strand, one having a cutter and bothhaving rotary bending elements.

Another object is to provide mandrels for the bending elements aroundwhich the loops are formed.

Another object is to provide means for flattening the strand ends forknotting.

Another object is to provide means for feeding a plurality of thestrands transversely through pleats of a pleated panel, and knottingstructure adapted to simultaneously knot all of the strand ends.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a strand reinforced fabric panel formed bythe apparatus shown diagrammatically :in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken Ion the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, withthe left hand portion of the panel enlarged.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view diagrammatically showing the apparatus forforming the strand reinforced panels of FIGURE 1, indicating also thepositions of various fabric panels as they are advanced through theapparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of portions of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3,including the pleater.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View of the wire spiralling apparatus takenalong the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4showing one of the knotting devices.

FIGURE 8 is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 8 in FIGURE7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line lil-10 of FIGURE 4,showing the other knotter.

Patented Nov. 16, 1965 FIGURE 11 is a `diagrammatic View of certainoperating components of the pleater structure in retracted position.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but showing the components inan intermediate position.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view showing the needle and strand structurebetween the pleater elements.

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view showing the operations performed on afabric panel by the apparatus of FIGURE 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially toFIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated an insulator pad or panel 10comprising a length of burlap 12 having its edge portions extended overstrips 14. The strips 14 may be of paper or other suitable material andextend beyond the edges of the burlap and are turned Onto the upper faceof the burlap as shown at 16 in FIG- URE 2. The turned edge portions 16are suitably secured to the burlap, for example by gluing, stapling yorsewing. To reinforce the panel, a number of strands of wire Ztl areprovided, each of which may if desired be undulatory or spiral inconfiguration as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

In order that the ends of the reinforcing strands 20 do not undulyproject from the surface of the burlap, the reinforcing strands arepreferably knotted at their ends as shown at 22 in FIGURE 1. Byutilizing strips 14 as shown, the wire knots are shielded so as not toform sharp projections which might prove a safety hazard in handling ofthe panels and which might undesirably lock adjacent panels togetherwhen they are stacked on one another.

Several operations are required to form the articles shown in FIGURES 1and 2. Thus, the burlap is cut to size, the strands 20 may be given anundulatory configuration and threaded through the burlap, the endportions of the wire strands are knotted, the strips 14 are applied tothe burlap-strand assembly and folded over the edges thereof, and theentire assembly is adhered together at 18.

Referring to FIGURE 14, the fabric burlap material is taken from asupply reel 24 and advanced beneath a vertically reciprocating cutter 86which cuts it into individual panels of a predetermined dimension (inthe arrow 87 direction). The conveyor means at 70 locates each panel ata predetermined point thereon, and introduces each panel into a pleatermechanism which automatically gives the panel a pleated condition asshown at 263.

While the panel is still in a pleated condition hollow pointed tubes orneedles 344 are passed transversely through the pleats in the arrow 345direction. Immediately thereafter the rolls 142 and 146 are rotated todrive wire strands 20 into the hollow needles. It will be noted that thewire strands are taken from Vsupply reels 349 in non-undulatoryconditions and if desired are undulated in the undulation-producingmechanism generally designated by numeral 101. FIGURE 14 shows only oneneedle and one wire strand, but it will be appreciated from a study ofFIGURE 3 that in actual practice a multiplicity of the needle-strandarrangements are utilized.

It will be appreciated that hollow tubes 344 act as guides to permit thewire strands to be rapidly advanced into and through the panel pleats.When the strands have been advanced into the tubes (or while they arebeing advanced therein) the tubes are retracted from the pleats, leavingthe strands embedded or extended Within the pleats. The strands are thencut and knotted at both ends by automatic mechanisms 367 and 369.

After the knotting operations the panel-strand assembly (with the panelstill in a pleated condition) is advanced into position beneath rollers510 which rotate about fixed axes to iron out the panel pleats andreturn the panel to a flat condition.

The panel is then advanced through the space between two travelingstrips 14 which are taken from supply reels 30 and folded about thefabric panel edges by means of the folder structure S42.

The panel assembly is subsequently advanced over the adhering mechanismshown in FIGURE 14 as comprising the automatic stapling guns 634. T hestrips 14 are at this time still in the form of continuous strips, andsuch strips are therefore cut through at appropriate points by theautomatic cutters 646.

As the last operation the complete panel assembly is passed onto thetrap doors 670- and 672, which automatical-ly swing down at apreappointed time to discharge the assembly into a shipping carton 694.When the carton is filled with a certain number or Weight of panels itis replaced with an empty carton.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the burlap is supplied from a reel 24 by asuitable feed roll, not shown, which is driven by any source of power.An idler roll 38 overlies and conceals the feed roll in FIGURE 3 andserves to maintain the burlap in driven engagement with the feed roll.The burlap moves through a trough 42 which serves as an accumulatorspace for maintaining a web supply for the cut-off structure or knifegenerally indicated at 86.

The burlap is fed from the bin by a rubber coated driver roll 46 and arubber coated idler roll 48. The arrangement is such that as rolls 46and 48 draw burlap from the trough, a switch is operated to energize themotor for the feed roll associated with idler roll 38 to replenish thesupply of burlap in the trough.

The driver roll 46 is operated intermittently to advance the burlap apredetermined distance beyond the cutter or knife 86. After eachintermittent advance of the continuous burlap web by the driver roll 46,the knife is operated to sever a panel of burlap from the leading end ofthe web, and the severed panel is deposited on and received by theconveyor chains 76 which extend longitudinally of the apparatus inlaterally spaced relation, being trained over sprockets on the shaft 66adjacent the cutter and sprockets on the shaft S7 spaced from the shaft66 in the direction of advance of the fabric through the apparatus, orto the right as shown in FIGURES 3 and 14.

The conveyor chains are driven so that their parallel top flights, whichlie in a common horizontal plane, move to the right as viewed in FIGURES3 and 14. The chains '70 are synchronized with the driver roll 46 sothat they advance the panels deposited thereon a distance equal to theadvance or feed of the web of burlap by driver roll 46, the intermittentoperation of the chains 70 occurring at the same time as theintermittent feed of the burlap by roll 46. Preferably the chains 76 arealso briefly operated between intermittent operations of the web drivingroll 46 to advance the cut panel deposited thereon a predetermineddistance to provide the desired spacing between panels. The drivemechanisms for the roll 46 and for the chains 719, and thesynchronization thereof are fully described in our co-epndingapplication Serial No. 38,402.

As an illustrative example, the roll 46 and chains 70 may besimultaneously actuated to advance the burlap supply past the upraisedshear blade 86 a distance of 22 inches, and to carry a previously cutpanel 12b for the same distance along the conveyor chains. While theroll 46 then remains motionless, the shear balde 86 is operated to cut a22 inch panel 12a from the burlap supply which is deposited on the rearend of the chains 70. Thereupon the chains 70 are again operated toshift the cut panel 12a downstream, or to the right, by a predeterminedamount, as for example 8 inches. During this time the roll 46 remainsmotionless. Thereafter, this same cycle is repeated over and over. Thechains have longitudinally spaced barbs 71 (FIG. 12) thereon to hold theburlap in fixed positions.

Chains 711 are of a length suflcient to carry the burlap from the burlappanel cutter 86 through a pleating station, needle insertion, wireadvancement station, needle retraction station, wire knotting station,and burlap unpleating station. As each panel is moved by the chains 7 itinitially passes into the pleater station 96, the function of which isto distort the panel into a wave-like configuration as shown at 263 inFIGURE 14 to permit the wire strands Ztl to be threaded therethrough.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the Wire strands are supplied from suitable reels98, there being one reel for each strand to be threaded into the panel.The illustrated machine iis designed -to simultaneously thread 18 wirestrands into the panel, and there are therefore employed 18 supply reels98 for the individual strands. Each strand as it comes from its reel isnot undulatory, and it may be given an undulatory shape before threadingthrough the panel. The mechanism for giving each Wire strand anundulatory or spiral configuration is diagrammatically illustrated at101 in FIGURES 3 and 14. This mechanism is shown in detail in FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 14, the fixed housing structure 100 carriesthe wire feed mechanism. Each wire is fed from its reel through theundulating device 101 and into the pleated fabric by the cooperatingdiscs 142 and 146, the wire being gripped between the peripheries of thediscs. In FIGURE 14, only one pair of discs 142 and 146 for each wire isshown, but preferably two pairs of such discs are provided, as shown inFIGURE 5. A fluid cylinder 156 has a piston rod 152 provided with a rack154 meshed with gear 156. By a series of distance multiplying gears 158through 164, a multiplied movement is transmitted to chain 166. Chain166 drives a shaft which carries a series of gears 170 (18 in theillustrated embodiment), the arrangement being such that each lgear 170meshes with the geared portions of the discs 146 to drive them clockwise(in FIG. 5). The discs 146 are respectively geared to the discs 142 sothat as a result the individual wire strands are fed from theirrespective reels through the undulatory device 101 and into the pleatedpanel. Suitable one-way clutch means is located in the drive from rack154 and chain 166 such that reverse movement of the rack will notreverse rotate the discs 142 and 146.

The cylinder 156 is operated to intermittently feed the 18 wire strandssimultaneously from their respective reels. After each feeding movementof the wire strands, the bar 141 extending across the wire strandsdescends by gravity and pulls a fresh supply of Wire from the reels 98.If the wire on any reel becomes tangled so that it will not readily pullfrom the reel, that particular strand will remain taut and will preventthe gravitational descent of the bar 141. The bar 141 is connected witha suitable safety shut-off mechanism 131, the arrangement being suchthat failure of the bar 141 to descend at the dictated time will haltthe cycle. The attendant may then take care of any entanglements.

The strand spiralling mechansim 101 is provided to impart a spiralconfiguration to the wire strands which are of course straight when theyleave the cooperating discs 142 and 146 of the wire feed mechanism. Thespiralling mechanism comprises a base 174 having a series of 18 separateblock elements or supports 176 adjustably secured thereon by means ofset screws 178 which extend through a cover plate 180. The cover plate180` extends laterally over all of the various block elements orsupports 176 and is xedly secured to the base 174 by a plurality ofspaced screws 182. Spacers (not shown) are provided at the ends of thebase 174 and cover plate to hold the two in the spaced positionsillustrated in FIGURE 6.

The downstream face of each support or block element 176 is providedwith an enlarged bore, and one end portion of a former rod 186 isclosely received and secured in the bore by a suitable set screw asshown. Each rod 186 is provided in its outer surface with a straightgroove portion 188 which extends from the end thereof received in theblock element 176 and leads to a spiral groove portion 190 which extendsentirely to the opposite or downstream end of the rod. The arrangementis such that as the wire strand is fed into the groove portion 190 bythe action of the discs 142 and 146 of the wire feed mechanism it istwisted into a spiral configuration. Former rod 186 extends through atubular member or sleeve 192, the internal surface of which closelysurrounds the rod and cooperates with the groove portion 190 in forminga spiral passageway for the strand. It will be understood that the boreof block element 176 in which the end of the former rod is receivedcooperates with the straight groove portion 188 to complete thedefinition of the passageway for the strand. In order to minimize wear`on the internal surface of sleeve 192, the sleeve preferably has arotatable fit on the rod 186 so that the sleeve can turn under theinfluence of the advancing strand whereby different portions of theinternal surface of the sleeve are presented to the spiral grooveportion 190 during successive spiralling operations so as to prolong thelife of the sleeve. In this connection, it will be appreciated that thestrand spiralling operations are carried out at relatively high speeds,and the abrasive action on the sleeve may become excessive.

A second rod 196 is provided which is aligned with rod 186 and insubstantial end to end abutting relation therewith. The rod 196 isslightly larger in diameter than the rod 186 and has in its outersurface a spiral groove 194 extending from end to end thereof. The endof the spiral groove portion 190 in rod 186 registers with the end ofspiral groove 194 so that a strand can pass continuously through the twogrooves in sequence. Each rod 196 is closely received within a bore in ablock or support 198 and secured thereto by means of a set screw asshown. The internal passage or bore in the block 198 closely surroundsthe rod 196 and cooperates with the groove 194 to define a passagewayfor the strand. The upper face of each block 198 is provided with a pairof V- shaped grooves 200 which form cam surfaces for cooperation withthe conical end portions of set screws 202. Accordingly, the block 198may be adjusted in the direction of length of rod 196, that is in thedirection of the arrow 204. When in the desired position of axialadjustment, the screws 202 may be advanced into the V-shaped grooves 200to lock the adjustment. Preferably the position of the block 198 is suchthat the rods 186 and 196 substantially abut in end to end relation asshown, so that there is a minimum clearance between the sleeve 192 andthe end face of block 198. The end of sleeve 192 should have a slightclearance with the block 198 and With the end `of rod 196 so that thesleeve is free to rotate and not clamp against the downstream face ofblock 176.

The right end portion of block 198 as shown in FIG- URE 6 carries acut-off block 206 which defines a face 208 located to be traversed by areciprocating cutter 210. It will be understood that at a predeterminedpoint in the operating cycle, the cutter 210 will be moved downwardlyacross the cut-off block to sever a length of the formed spiral strand.

As seen in FIGURE 6, the major diameter of the groove 194 is slightlygreater than the major diameter of the groove 190. Also the pitch of thegroove 194 as denoted by dimension 214, is greater than the pitch ofgroove 198 as denoted by dimension 21S. These difierences are designedto accommodate the tendency of the wire strand to spring back after itsdeformation in groove 190, The diameter and pitch of groove 194 willaccommodate substantially all of the springback so that the wire strandin groove 194 is unstressed, and a precise length thereof will bedischarged past the block 206 during each operating cycle. In thismanner the subsequent operations on the strand are more accuratelyperformed and the resultant product (FIGS. 1 and 2) is more uniform.

As seen in FIGURE 6, the block 176 is formed with concave surfaces 392which are substantially concentric with the discs 142 and 146 and extendin between the discs. The edge where the concave surfaces meet extendsinto the bite between the discs. A passage 393 in block 176 extends fromthe edge where the concave surfaces meet, to the passage formed by thestrand portion 188 of the groove in rod 186 and is aligned with grooveportion 188. Hence a wire strand fed from the discs 142 and 146 entersthe spiralling mechanism through the passage 393 and is fed continuouslythrough the spiral passages provided by the rods 186 and 196 to be giventhe desired spiral configuration.

The undulating or spiralling mechanism 101 shown in FIGURE 6 may beemployed with some or all of the strands, that is some of the strandsmay be fed into the fabric panel without being spiralled and some of thestrands may be given different undulatory shapes than that produced bythe mechanism of FIGURE 6. Also, some of the strands may be ofrelatively heavy gauge, and some may be of relatively light gauge inaccordance with different characteristics to be given to different areasof the final product. Those other strands which are to be given the samespiral configuration as the strand shown in FIGURE 6 will of course beformed to spiral configuration by similar apparatus to that shown inFIG- URE 6.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be seen that after the individualwire strands have been fed through the device 101, they are forced intoa pleater station 96 which operates to form and maintain the burlapvpanel in a pleated condition during insertion of the wire strands.

The pleater operation may best be visualized by referring to schematicillustrations in FIGURES 11 and l2. As shown in FIGURE l1, the burlappanel 12a` is supported on the conveyor chains 70. Disposed beneath andbetween the various chains 70 are the elongated lower pleater elementsor bars 284 which are each of a length corresponding to the cut lengthof the panel (that is the dimension in the direction of arrow 87 inFIGURE 14) plus an appropriate `factor or margin. The various pleaterbars 284 are carried on an elevator 288, and when the elevator is raisedfrom its FIGURE ll position to its FIGURE l2 position the variouspleater bars 284 are projected upwardly between the chains 70 so as tolift the burlap panel from the chains as shown in FIGURE l2. In itsFIGURE 12 position the panel is located very closely adjacent to thelower edges of an upper set of pleater bars 262. There are provided acenter pleater bar, designated by numeral 276, and additional pleaterbars on both sides thereof. The pleater bars at the left of centerpleater -bar 276, as well as center pleater .bar 276, are notched attheir upper edges to form cam surfaces 390 for causing the bars to becammed downwardly by leftward movement of the overlying cam bar 271. Thepleater bars at the right of center pleater bar 276, as well as centerpleater bar 276, are suitably notched at their upper edges to form camsurfaces 391 for causing the bars to be cammed downwardly by rightwardmovement of cam bar 274. The cam bars 271 and 274 are shown retracted inFIGURES l1 and 12, and the pleater bars over which they extend whenretracted are suitably notched to clear the cam bars. Suitable springmeans, not shown, are provided to retract the upper set of pleaterelements 262 to the FIGURE 11 position when the cam bars are retractedas illustrated.

In the preferred operation the cam members or bars 271 and 274 are movedsimultaneously in opposite directions so as to cross one another andsequentially depress the various pleater bars in the upper set of bars,beginning from the center pleater bar 276 and continuing laterallyoutwardly with depressions of successive bars on both sides of thecenter pleater bar. The `arrangement is such that initially the centerpleater bar 276 is depressed downwardly so as to cooperate with thesubjacent pleater bars to tightly grip the center area of the burlappanel. Therefore, as the other pleater bars come down successively thepanel will maintain its position relative to the longitudinal centerline of the machine such that very little lateral bodily shifting of thepanel will occur. Since the outermost pleater bars will not come downuntil the innermost pleater bars have been depressed there will be noexcessive strain placed on the burlap such as might tear or deform theburlap fibers.

FIGURE 4 provides an elevational view of the pleater station which, .aswill be seen, comprises two ribbed beams 107 and 109 supported at theirends by pillars 111. A bridge structure 113 extends .across the spacebetween beams 107 and 109 to rigidify them and provide a support forhousing 115. Cylinder 216 has a rod 218 which extends into housing 115to operate cam bars 271 and 274 by suitable mechanism not shown.

The foregoing brief description provides a general outline of the modeof operation of the panel pleating structure. For a more detaileddescription reference is made to applicants co-pending parentapplication, Serial No. 38,402.

It Will be noted from FIGURE 13 that the lower edge portion of eachpleater element 262 is provided with a series of slots 300. In theillustrated mechanism each of the pleater elements 262 is provided witheighteen slots corresponding in number to the number of wire strands toybe inserted through the fabric pleats. Each of the .pleater elements inthe lower set of pleater elements 284 is provided with a correspondingnumber of slots 302 in its yupper edge, the arrangement being such thatwhen the pleaters are in their FIGURE 13 positions a series of eighteenpassages is formed through the pleater element assembly.

The purpose of these passages is to permit hollow needle structures tobe driven through the fabric pleats, said needle structures serving asguides for subsequent insertion of the spiral wire strands previouslydescribed.

Power for the needle -insertion operation is derived from a fluidcylinder 306 shown in FIGURE 5. The piston rod for cylinder 306 carriesa rack 308 which meshes with a gear 310 carried by the shaft of a largergear 312. Gear 312 in turn meshes with a gear 314 carried by the shaftof a relatively large gear 316 which meshes with the gear 320 carried onthe shaft of a larger gear 318. The gear 318 meshes with a rack 326which is connected at one end to a crosshead 330 slidably supported onfixed guide rods 334. The crosshead 330 carries eighteen hollow needles344, the arrangement being such that energization of cylinder 306 iseffective to move rack 326 to the left as Iviewed in FIGURE 5 t-othereby carry the needles 344 through the pleater elements and pleatedfabric panel as shown in lFIGURE 13. The slots 300 and 302 in theadjacent edges of the pleater elements 262 and 284 line up transverselyof the machine when the pleater elements are moved toward each other asshown in FIGURE 13 to provide elongated passages adapted to receive therespective needles. The needles are actually hollow tubes and `areinserted through the pleated fabric prior to insertion of the Wires toserve as guides and prevent deflection or jamming of the wir-es duringinsertion of the latter.

The leading edge of each needle is sharply pointed as at 360, with theedge portion 362 tapering back at a small angle to form -a pointed endoperative to easily penetrate the burlap panel during high speedinsertion of the needle. When the needles are located within the pleaterelements as shown in FIGURE `13, the cylinder 150 (FIGS. 4 and 5) isenergized to feed the wire strands through the spiralling mechanism andinto the hollow needles to the FIGURE 13 position. The hollow needlesprotect the Wire strands during insertion so they will not interferewith the burlap threads.

It is contemplated that the insertion of the needles will be completedbefore introduction of the wir-es into the pointed ends -of the needles.However, the needles may retract during the advance of the wires, themost important aim being to have at least the ends of the wire strandswithin the needles as the strands are fed through the pleats. However,the needles may remain in the extended position within the pleaterstation dur-ing the entire strand advancing operation.

After insertion of the wire strands into the extended hollow needles,the holl-ow needles are withdrawn to leave the strands threaded throughthe pleats of the fabric panel. The wire strands `will then be severedand knotted at both ends. Preferably, the strand knotting operation isperformed at the conclusion of the strand -insertion operation while thefabric is in a pleated condition. The left hand knotter mechanism isshown at 367 and the right hand knotter at 369.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the ends of the wirestrands in the finished article are curled around or knotted. The strandknotting operation is preferably performed at the conclusion of thestrand insertion operation While the fabric is in a pleated condition(FIG. 13). The leftmost knotter mechanism is 367 as shown in FIGURES7-9, and the rightmost knotter 369 is shown in FIGURE 10. The positionsof these knotter mechanisms With respect to the other apparatus is bestshown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the leftmost knotter comprises an elongated bedplate 371 having a series of spaced blocks 379 secured thereon to deneeighteen separate grooves 373, the arrangement being such that one ofthe strands 20 travel-s through each groove in the direction of thearrow B during the strand insertion operation. The mechanism is shown inFIGURE 7 with the parts thereof in the positions they occupy during theknotting operation, and the space through which the strand travelsduring the strand insertion operation is therefore restricted by theknotter mechanisms.

Power for the knotting operation is derived from three sources. Thus,referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 there is provided a uid cylinder 368`carried on a bracket-forming extension 370 of the elevator 288. Thepiston rod for cylinder 368 is connected with eighteen parallel plungers372 (FIGS. 5 and 7) by means of a crosshead 377 so that energization ofcylinder 368 is effective to move the plungers upwardly toward the bedplate 371 to the FIGURE 7 position. Each plunger 372 carries a pinlikemandrel element 374 which projects upwardly above the bed surface 366 toform a mandrel surface for bending of the wire strand therearound duringthe knotting operation. Each plunger also carries a pin 375 whichfunctions as a back-up device for the wire strand during the knottingoperation.

In order to bend the wire strands around mandrel-s 374 there is provideda pin-like bending element 376 carried on a rotary head 378. Bearingsare provided at 380 and 382 for rotatably supporting the head 378 in acarrier structure generally indicated by numeral 384. Power for rotationof the head 378 is derived from a uid cylinder 385 and rack 386. Thedrive from rack 386 comprises a gear 388 carried on shaft 390, a secondgear 392 carried on shaft 390 and a rack 394 meshed with gear 392. Thevertical face 396 of rack 394 is provided with a slot 398 which receivesan extension 400 of a relatively long rack 402. It will be noted fromFIGURE 8 that rack 386 is of relatively short length. However, the rack402 is long enough to span the entire bank of knotter heads 378, withthe teeth thereof engaging the gear portions 406 of the individual heads378 as shown in FIG- URE 7.

It will be appreciated that movement of rack 386 (by cylinder 385) inone direction is effective to rotate all of the knotter heads 378 in onedirection for effecting a strand knotting operation. Reverse movement ofthe 9 rack 386 is effective to return the heads 378 to their initialpositions.

Between successive knotting operations the carrier 384 is retractedupwardly away from the bed surface 366 by means of the fluid cylinder408. Cylinder 408 is mounted atop a bridge structure 410 located on anelongated housing 409. As will be seen from FIGURE 4, housing 409 ismounted at its opposite ends on the beams 107 and 109, The piston rod412 for cylinder 408 is connected with a crosshead 414 which carries thetwo depending rods 416 at its opposite ends. The lower end portions ofthese rods are anchored to the carrier 384 by means of cross pins 418.The arrangement is such that pumping of fluid into the lower end ofcylinder 408 is effective to raise the carrier 384 upwardly from bedsurface 366 to permit passage of the wire strands over the bed surfaceand into the pleater elements.

After each pleater operation pressure fluid is pumped into the upper endof cylinder 408 to quickly lower carrier 384 toward surface 366. As thecarrier nears surface 366 cutter 210 slices through the wire strand tocut off the length thereof to the right of the cutter. During thecut-off operation the clamp structure 420 is effective to grip the wireand retain it in proper position for ensuring a clean cut at the desiredlocation therealong. Clamp structure 420 comprises a series of spacedfinger members 422 projecting downwardly from the carrier 384, the spacebetween adjacent fingers being occupied by strand gripping elements 424,and the various strand gripping elements being pivotally mounted bymeans of a pin 426 extending through finger members 422. It will beunderstood that in a construction having eighteen wire strand feedersthere will also be employed eighteen wire gripper elements 424.

Each of the wire gripper elements is individually biased in a downwarddirection by means of a compression spring 428, said spring operating onthe gripper element via a hollow plunger 430. The operation is such thatas the carrier 384 is lowered its pivotally mounted gripper elements 424strike the wire strands and compress the springs 428 to thereby providea tight grip on the strands irrespective of any slight variation invertical dimension of the various gripper elements spacing of bedsurface 366 from the carrier, or variation in strand thickness.

It will be noted that the tip of cutter 210 is located slightly belowthe lower face 432 of the knotter head 378. Face 432 acts as a presserelement to cooperate with the upper face of the fixed bushing 434 inironing out a short portion of the wire strand from its spiralconfiguration, the purpose being to prevent an intermediate portion ofthe wire strand from interfering with its extreme end portion during theknotting operation. In this connection the major diameter of the spiralstrand convolution is in an illustrative case in the neighborhood ofone-quarter inch and the diameter of the wire is in the neighborhood of.O40 inch. The movement of the carrier is preferably such as to leave aclearance of about .050 inch between face 432 and the upper face ofbushing 434.

When rack 386 is moved to rotate the heads 378 the resultant rotation ofeach bending element 376 is such that a wire end portion adjacent cutter210 is curled around the mandrel 374 and depressed into the annularopening 436 as the pin 376 nears the end of its rotary movement. Pin 376is shown in FIGURE 7 adjacent the end of its movement. It initiallytakes a position spaced about one hundred eighty radial degrees from theFIG- URE 7 position, so that it acts as a bending element for the endportion of the wire strand. During the final stage of the bendingmovement the end portion of the wire may cam against the registeringwire portion to be deflected into the recess 436 so as to achieve thecross condition shown in FIGURE'l.

The complete sequence of movements in operation of the FIGURE 7 knotterstructure is as follows. With the carrier 384 in a raised position, atconclusion of the strand feeding operation the cylinder 408 is energizedto quickly lower the carrier 384 and cut off the wire strand.Simultaneously with lowering of the carrier 384 the plungers 372 arepowered upwardly -by cylinder 368 so that the mandrel 374 is guided intothe central opening 440 in each head 378. Rack 386 is then powered torotate the various knotter heads 378 for causing the bending elements376 to be rotated around the mandrels 374 to effect the knottingoperations. Carrier 384 and plunger 372 are then powered apart toseparate or strip the elements 374 and 376 from the knot. Elevator 288(FIG. 5) is then lowered to lower the lower set of pleater elements sothat the fabric-wire strand assembly is deposited onto the conveyorchains 70 for carry-over to the next operating station.

The right yknotter structure 369 shown in FIGURE 10 is similar' to theleft knotter in many respects, and similar reference num-erals aretherefore employed wherever applicable. `In the FIGURE 10 constructionla fluid cylinder 442 is mounted =on a fixed support structure 444 withits piston rod 446 connected with a crosshead 448, said crossheadcarrying a depending connector rod 450 which is linked at 452 to a pairof levers 454. The linkage 452 preferably comprises an elongated shaft456 extending between the two levers 454, said levers being preferablylocated at opposite end portions of the knotter apparatus and beingfulcru-med on an elongated shaft 460 carried by support structure 444.The two levers 454 are linked to `an elongated shaft 462 which carries abank of reciprocable plungers 372, each of the plungers carrying amandrel and back-up pin similar to the corresponding elements of theFIGURE 7 structure. Each of the mandrels cooperates with a rotaryknotter head 378 similar to the corresponding head in the FIGURE 7construction. The various knotter heads are rotatably supported in acarrier 464 which is slida'bly mounted on face 445 of support structure444. Carrier 464 is supported at its ends by the two rods 466 whichdepend from crosshead 448.

In operation of the FIGURE 10 construction, energiz'ation ofthe fluidcylinder 442 is effective to move rod 450 upwardly for downwardretraction of the plungers 372; simultaneously ythe carrier 464 is drawnupwardly by the rods 466 to free the right end area of the fabric-wirestrand article for movement by the conveyor chains 70. After apredetermined movement of the c-onveyor chains the cylinder 292 isenergized to raise elevator 288. Thereafter piston rod 446 is powereddownwardly to bring elements 378 and 372 together, and rack 386 iSpowered to effect a knot-ting operation of .pin 376.

During the knotting operations the fabric panel is held in a pleatedcondition with the needles of course withdrawn. The wire strands 20frictionally engage the burlap fibers and tend to hold the p'leated formof the panel. Accordingly, after the inserted wire strands have beenknotted, the fluid cylinder 216 is operated to allow the upper pleaterelements to return to the position of FIGURES 11 and 12, the cylinder292 is operated to lower the elevator 288 carrying the lower pleaterelements to the position of FIGURE 1l, and the strand reinforced panelis moved to a flattening or unpleating station which has therubber-coated r-olls 510. The panel is carried from the pleater to theunpleating station by the conveyor chains 70 during subsequentintermittent operation thereof. The rolls 510 flatten the pleated panelso that it Iassumes substantially the configuration shown in FIG- URE 2.The flattening station is more fully described in our copendingapplicati-on, Serial No. 38,402.

Thereafter, the conveyor chains 70 transfer the panel through the spacebetween the traveling strips 14 which are taken from supply rolls 30 andfolded .about the edges of the fabric panel by means of the folderstructure 542. In FIGURE 3, the panel 12f is shown between the folderstructure-s. Panel 12e is approximately at the unpleating or flattening`station and panel 12d is in an intermediate position.

The stapling guns 634 lin FIGURE 14 secure the folded strips to theedges of the reinforced panel, and thereafter the complete panelassembly is transferred lto the point of discharge over the trap doors670 and 672 which automatically open to deposit the panel a-sse-mblyinto a shipping carton.

The apparatus illustrated and described herein is `operated so as to cutthe fabric panels to length before pleating and insertion and knottingof the reinforcing strands. However, the panels could be cut to lengthafter insertion and knotting of the strands. The shear blade 86 can beplaced `at the downstream end of the machine so that the severing of theindividual panels occurs only after all of the other operations,pleating, :strand inserti-on, knotting, unpleating, etc., have beencompleted. Apparatus as thus modified, in which the panels are severedas the last operation, is described in our `cro-pending applicationSerial No. 38,402. Accordingly, the piece of material into which thestrands are inserted may be either the individual panels or the:continuous web before it is severed into panels. Stated `another way,the panels into lwhich the strands are inserted may be either separatemembers already severed from the continuous web, or they may beunsevered and still an integral part of the web.

Whether the panels are severed before ple'ating, as illustrated anddescribed, for as the final operation, the operation of the strandfeeding and knotting lapparatus will be the same.

What 'we claim :as our invention is:

ll. The method of making a strand-reinforced piece @of fabric or likematerial comprising llongitudinally feeding a strand yof yundulatingform into the material, severing the portion lof the strand in thematerial from the remainder thereof, flattening out the undulations nearthe rends of the severed strand portion, and twisting the ends intoloops.

2. The method yof making a strand-reinforced piece of burlap or likematerial comprising longitudinally feedljing a plurality lof laterallyspaced parallel strands 'of undulating `form transversely through thepleats of a pleated piece of the material, severing the portions of thestrands in the material from the remaining portions thereof, lclampingthe severed Istr-and portions near the ends therefof, flattening theundulations outward of the points fof clamping, and twisting the ends toform loops.

3. Mechanism for making a strand-reinforced piece fof fabric or likematerial, comprising means for longitudinally feeding a strand into thematerial from :one `side thereof to the other, a cutter adapted to severthe portion of said strand in the material `from the remainder thereof,means for twisting the ends of the severed strand portion into loopsincluding separate supports at opposite sides of the lmaterial, `saidsupports 'being disposed yat one side lof the feed path of the 'st-randand facing said feed path, structures opposed to said supports andmovable transversely Iof said feed path from a retracted position at thelopposite side of said feed path in a direction toward said supports toan 'operative position, and rotary bending elements on said structuresadapted to form loops in the ends of the several lstrand portion in theoperative positions of said structures.

4. The mechanism defined in claim 3, wherein mandrel elements aredisposed Within the arcs described by said bending elements around whichthe loops are formed by said `bending elements.

5. The mechanism dened in claim 3, wherein said movable structures andsupports have cooperative means for engaging the strand and holding itflat in response to movement of :said movable structures toward saidsupports.

6. Mechanism for making a strand-reinforced piece of fabric or likematerial, comprising means for longitudinally feeding a strand into thematerial from one side thereof to the other, means for severing theportion of the strand in the material from the remainder thereof and'for twisting the ends of the severed strand portion into loopsincluding separate supports at opposite sides of the material, movablestructures opposed to said supports and movable toward said supports ina direction transversely of the feed path of said strand to an operativeposition, a cutter on one of said structures adapted to sever theportion of said strand in the material `from the remainder thereof inresponse to the movement of said one structure toward said support,rotary bending elements on said structures adapted to form loops in theends of the severed strand portion in the operative positions of `saidstructures, and mandrel elements yprojecting from said supports withinthe arcs described by said `bending elements around which the loops areformed lby said bending elements.

'7. The mechanism dened in claim 6, wherein said strand is of undulatingform, and said movable strucltures and supports have cooperative meansfor flattening the undulations in said strand in response to movement=of said movable structures toward said supports.

8. Mechanis-m 'for making a strand-reinforced piece of burlap or likematerial, comprising means for holding the material in :a pleatedcondition, means for longitudinally feeding a strand transverselythro-ugh said pleats from one side of the material to the other,supports underlying opposite sides of the material, movable `structures-above said supports and movable toward said supports to operativepositions, a cutter :on one of said movable structures adapted to severthe portion of the strand in the material `from lthe remainder thereofin response to movement of said one structure to operative position,rotary `bending elements mounted on said movable structures for rotationabout vertical axes and adapted to form loops in the ends of the severedstrand portion when said movable structures are in their operativepositions, and mandrels projecting from said supports toward saidmovable structures Within the arcs described by said lbending elementsaround which the loops are 'formed by said bending elements.

9. Mechanism for making a strand-reinforced piece of burlap 4or likematerial, comprising means for holding the material in a pleatedcondition, means for longitudinally feeding a plurality of laterallyspaced, parallel strands transversely through said pleats 'from one sideof the material to the other, supports underlying opposite sides of thematerial, vertically movable structures above said supports, a cutter onone of said movable structures adapted to sever the portions of saidstrands in the material from the remaining portions thereof in responseto downward movement of said one structure to operative position,vertical bending elements mounted on said movable structures for axialrotation and adapted to form loops in the ends of the severed strandportions When said movable structures are in their operative positions,vertical mandrels carried by said supports and vertically -movable fromlower inoperative positions to upper operative positions in which theyproject upwardly from said supports within the arcs described by saidbending elements around which the loops :are lformed by said bendingelements, means for lowering said structures to `operative positions andfor raising said mandrel elem-ents to operative positions, and means forrotating said `bending elements to form said loops around said mandrelelements.

10. The Imechanism defined in claim 9, wherein said `strands are ofundulating form, and said movable structures and supports havecooperative means for flattening the undulations near the ends of saidstrands in Tesponse to movement of said movable structures toward saidsupports.

Il. The mechanism defined in claim lt), wherein said supports haveelongated horizontal grooves in the top surfaces for the reception ofsaid strands.

12. Mechanism lfor making a strand-reinforced piece of fabric or likematerial, comprising means 4for longitudinally feeding a ystrand intothe material from lone side thereof to the other, a cutter adapted t-osever the portion of said strand in the material from the remainderthereof, means for twisting the ends of the severed 4strand portion intoloops including separate Support structures at opposite sides ofmaterial, said support structures being disposed at one Side of the feedpath of the strand land facing said path, movable structures opposed tosaid support structures and movable transversely of said feed path lfroma retracted position at the opposite side of 4said feed path in adirection toward said support structures to an operative position,rotary bending elements on said mov-able structures adapted to formlloops in the ends of the lSevered strand portion in the operativepositions of said movable structures, and mandrel elements respectivelycarried by one of the structures at each side of the material anddisposed within the arcs described by said bending elements around whichthe loops are formed by said bending elements.

13. The mechanism defined in claim 12, wherein said `cutters arerespectively carried by one of the structures at each side :of thematerial.

14. The method of making a strand-reinforced piece of fabric or likematerial, comprising longitudinally feeding a strand into the material,severing the portion of the strand in the material from the remainderthereof, twisting the ends of the severed strand portion into loops, andholding the strand portion near ISaid ends thereof in a ilattenedcondition during the twisting of said ends into loops.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES W.LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A STRAND-REINFORCED PIECE OF FABRIC OR LIKEMATERIAL COMPRISING LONGITUDINALLY FEEDING A STRAND OF UNDULATING FORMINTO THE MATERIAL, SEVERING THE PORTION OF THE STRAND IN THE MATERIALFROM THE REMAINDER THEREOF, FLATTENING OUT THE UNDULATIONS NEAR THE ENDSOF THE SEVERED STRAND PORTION, AND TWISTING THE ENDS INTO LOOPS.